Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (16 page)

Lina was distracted when Ava stopped speaking in the middle of her declaration of love for Logan. “Marcus?” That name on Ava’s lips made Lina’s blood run cold. Lina watched as a range of emotions flashed on her best friend’s face. The room had fallen into an unnatural stillness as hundreds of people stared at the silent couple on stage. Logan was visibly scowling and scanning the crowd. Lina followed Ava’s gaze and landed on the well-dressed man at the far corner of the ballroom. Marcus Grant, Ava’s abusive boyfriend from college stood at the back of the ball room. What the flagnoid? Who had invited him?
 

“Butt wipe,” she heard Janna mutter, as the petite powerhouse turned and started pushing through the crowd.
 

“I’m tracking him.” Lina started putting an extra dip in her hip, clearing a path for her and Janna to get to the man who had nearly destroyed Ava. A nondescript man of Hispanic heritage stepped into her path, bringing her to an abrupt halt. She felt Janna bump into her rear and bounce back with the spring of a quarter hitting a military rack.
 

“Excuse me, ma’am, would you like a glass of champagne?” The man thrusted a fluted glass with golden liquid up at her face. The guy was enthusiastic about his job.
 

“All these people to serve, and you stop me in mid-stride,” she took a step back and peered down at his oval, gold colored name tag attached to his starched, white jacket the man was wearing, “Moon, appreciate your attention, but not now.” When he didn’t move, Lina straightened her spine, showcasing every inch of her six feet, one inch in heels. Hands on her full hips, she pressed her lips together, narrowed her eyes all the while watching Mr. Moon.
Her stance said, you don’t want any of this.
 

“Pardon me ma’am, I apologize.” It looked like he was about to say something else, but Lina was distracted yet again.
 

Gideon’s familiar scent surrounded her before she felt a steely, arm close around her, waist, “Hey, what is going on with Ava?” Gideon said close to her ear. The warmth of his breath heated more than her cheek.
 

“Look to your right, the black guy in the navy suit near the rear exit is the guy that hurt Ava in college. His name is Marcus Grant.”
 

“I thought you and Ava attended different colleges?”

“We did. She’s a FAMU graduate, but I saw pictures.”

“You never met him, but you recognize him based on a photo from six years ago?”

“I rarely forget a face. It’s one of my many talents.”

“Who the heck invited him?”

“My first guess, Ava’s future mother-in-law,” Lina offered a saccharine smile.
 

“Oh damnation.”

“Yep, that about sums it up.”

Lina observed as Robert Lee Masters, sliced through the crowd like the neurosurgeon he was, eyes searching frantically through the crowd.
 

“When Lina heard a roar from the direction of the stage, she turned in time to see Logan leap from the stage, barreling his way through the crowd.” From there, mass scale chaos ruptured.
 

Masters men were on a rampage throughout the ball room. Of course most of the guests had no idea why Logan’s fiancée was mute all of a sudden, or why Logan swept guests out of his path like bowling pins to reach the back of the ballroom. God, this had to be miserable for Ava. She and Logan deserved happiness, but it was proving to be elusive.
 

If she met Mr. Right and he stayed around long enough, Lina would forego all this hoopla. Get that man to the altar, and straight to a coat closet to consummate that sucker before something went wrong.

Gideon could see Ava’s lips quiver as the room erupted in full on chaos. Looking at any woman on the verge of tears churned his gut. He needed to help the guys with keeping Logan calm. So, he left Lina with the icy, pint-sized Navy nurse corps officer. Janna Williamson’s five foot frame draped in a robin’s egg blue pant suit with springy curls flowing down her back was a stark contrast to her brusque personality. With her squared shoulders and parade rest stance, she reminded him of a female Marine. Taking in the melee, Gideon was pissed at the damage done to Ava and Logan’s special day. Of course, having the groom-to-be attack one of the guests changed the tone of the party. Guests were exiting the ballroom with the efficiency of a fire Marshall Directive. Gideon breathed a sigh of relief when Lina, Janna, Rebecca Lynn and all the women of the Walter’s family rallied around Ava. The mild mannered, always poised pediatric nurse was escorted off the stage before more chaos ensued.
 

Marcus Grant looked stunned when Logan tore through the crowd en route to him, but the man was ready when Logan aimed a fist at his face. Marcus was skilled and ready for the punch, but he’d underestimated Logan’s intensity. Logan pushed every ounce of his weight into his punches. Marcus should count his blessings if all his teeth remained in his mouth. Seriously, if Logan’s mom had orchestrated that cluster fubar she was one vicious socialite.
 

“Where’s Ava?” Logan’s wild gaze searched the shattering crowd. Gideon took in the blood spatters on Logan’s white dress shirt, the skin covering his knuckles was crimson red and bruised.
 

“Logan,” Gideon started cautiously. Logan didn’t look at him.
 

“Not now Gideon, I need to be with Ava, now that the asshole is out of here. And my mother is on her way home.”
 

“It’s a bad idea to approach Ava spattered with blood.” Ava looked ready to crack when her friends ushered her to the ladies’ lounge. Menace rolled off Logan with the intensity of a magnetic pulse. His strength seemed unnatural as he drove through the crowd toward Ava’s abuser. Darwin had pulled Logan off the bleeding man with the help of Graham.
 

“Not to get into your family business, but does your mother have any underlying mental health concerns?” Gideon knew he was in uncharted waters. He and Logan limited their conversations to work and golf.
 

“She starts her day with a drink.” Ah. An alcoholic. That answered one of his questions, but not the most important.

“Why is Ava a target for her anger?” Gideon knew Maribelle’s threats contributed to Ava running away from Logan at first. She’d joined the Navy Nurse corps to protect Logan and escape Shell Cove. Gideon watched as the other man ran tracks through his hair with his fingers. By his tight expression, Gideon knew whatever Logan was about to say would be a doozy.

“This is all new information to me, but, my grandfather had a mistress.” Gideon shrugged his shoulders. Unclear how this information related to what happened.
 

“His mistress resembled Ava.” Oh, damnation. Gideon raked his fingers through his hair.
 

“Wow. I don’t how to respond,” Gideon said.

“That makes two of us.” Logan’s face went blank. Gideon could feel Logan’s sorrow. “My grandfather was involved with her for decades, until she died. Their relationship was public knowledge and a source of ridicule for my mother throughout her childhood.”

Interesting. An experience from childhood had driven the woman to attack her son’s fiancée. As a friend, he accepted the information as presented to him, but as a seasoned psychiatrist he knew there had to be something more recent to trigger her behavior.

“The man has been dead for over ten years. Any advice, counselor?” Logan looked at him expectantly.
 

Logan’s mother hadn’t forgiven her father.
 

“None that would help you today. I’d be happy to arrange an initial consultation for your mother with one of my colleagues,” he offered. Logan snorted in response.

“You’ve met my mother. I would like a team of wild horses to drag her into a psych clinic.” Or maybe one determined Marine.
 

“Before this question and answer session evolves into a one hour visit, I need to see Ava.”

“I agree, but look at yourself.” Gideon pointed at the blood spatters marring Logan’s sand colored suit jacket. Logan quickly glanced down.
 

“I need a change of clothes.”

Clamping a hand of support on the distressed male’s shoulder, Gideon said, “Come on, I have an extra shirt in my car. I’ll go grab it while you clean up.”

Logan didn’t move. Gideon met the other man’s gaze, silently questioning his delay.
 

“I’m pissed, but I know you’re using your de-escalation techniques on me.”

“You’ll thank me and my de-escalation methodology when you see yourself in the mirror.”

“Since you’re offering advice, here’s some for you. I saw you with Lina tonight and I’ve forgotten that kissing stunt you pulled at the country club.” Gideon didn’t like Logan’s tone. Like he was warning him away from Lina.
 

“Tonight isn’t about me and Lina.” Gideon knew his voice was stern, too directive for the moment, but he wouldn’t discuss what was happening between him and Lina with anyone.

“I know it’s my and Ava’s night, but keep walking if your plan is to toy with Lina.”

“You ready to get your ass kicked? That’s about to happen if you’re thinking you can warn me away from Lina.” They were at a standoff, both of them staring each other down.
 

Logan laughed then.
 

“Glad we understand one another.”

“Yeah, we do.”

“You know that country accent of yours shows itself when your pissed.”

“Get out of here. I’ll bring the shirt.” Before Gideon could turn away, Logan extended his hand.

“Thanks, Gideon.”

“No problem. That’s what friends do.”

“You’re serious about Lina.” It was an observation more than anything. Gideon nodded his head in agreement.
 

“Protect her better than I’ve done with Ava.” Lina needed protection, but not from clawed and winged socialites. The tightening in his gut when he replayed the scene in her bedroom said danger was close. He would keep her safe at any cost.

The ladies’ dressing room resembled a scene from the Rocky Horror Picture show. Ava’s grandmother, affectionately called Granny Lou by grand and non-grand children alike, had a vise-like grip on Mrs. Walters shoulder, while Lina’s mom, Bernadean had a similar grip on both the woman’s hands. Nostrils flaring and lips thinned, Ariss Walters, Ava’s mother, looked ready to rock’em and sock’em like a vintage Batman television episode. For Maribelle’s sake, Lina hoped the woman had pulled an Elvis and left the building.